Children’s Books About Honesty & Integrity (Virtues Unit Study)

Teaching our children about virtues is a daily event, through small acts to big talks. These children’s books about honesty and integrity will also help you along the way.

I’ve broken down these books by children’s picture books about honesty as well as chapter books for older readers.

In addition to offering recommendations of books about honesty and integrity for kids,I’ve teamed up with some fellow bloggers to offer you homeschool and in-class virtues unit study resources! You can find these books about honesty and integrity at your local library or purchase through the affiliate links provided for your convenience.

Children’s Books About Honesty & Integrity

The Empty Pot: The Emperor loved flowers too. When it was time to choose an heir, he gave a flower seed to each child in the kingdom. “Whoever can show me their best in a year’s time,” he proclaimed, “shall succeed me to the throne!” Ping plants his seed and tends it every day. But month after month passes, and nothing grows. When spring comes, Ping must go to the Emperor with nothing but an empty pot. Demi’s exquisite art and beautifully simple text show how Ping’s embarrassing failure is turned triumphant in this satisfying tale of honesty rewarded.

Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie: Ruthie loves little things-the smaller the better. So when she finds a teeny tiny camera on the school playground one afternoon, she can hardly believe her luck. She wants to keep the camera in the worst way, but there’s one little problem: It isn’t hers. Ruthie swears to her teacher and to her classmate Martin that she got the camera for her birthday. But deep down, Ruthie knows better, and all day long that teeny tiny camera weighs on her conscience until she can hardly stand it. How could one little camera turn into such a great big problem? Laura Rankin touches on an important childhood issue with gentleness and humor, offering a reassuring look at how standing up for the truth can help cut even the biggest mistake down to size.

Tell the Truth, B.B. Wolf: Big Bad Wolf’s first visit to his local library (as related in Mind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf) was such a success that he returns to tell his version of “The Three Little Pigs.” His outrageous spin on the tale draws skeptical remarks from his audience: “Isn’t that wolf’s nose getting longer?” asks Pinocchio. “It’s a cooked-up, half-baked tale,” snaps the Gingerbread Boy. And “Tell the truth, B.B. Wolf!” squeal the Three Little Pigs. Caught in his own lie, B.B. explains that he is a reformed villain: “Now I’m begging on my knees, Little Pigs, forgive me, please!” How B.B. turns his bad old deed into a good new one provides a happy ending to this fun-to-read fractured fairytale.

A Hen for Izzy Pippik: When Shaina finds a magnificent hen, she knows that Izzy Pippik, the hen’s owner, is sure to return for her. In the meantime, Shaina decides she will care for the animal. But when dozens of eggs hatch and rowdy chickens scatter throughout the village, Shaina must fight the entire town if she has any hope of protecting the birds. Inspired by Jewish and Islamic traditional texts, this is a beautiful tale about doing the right thing, even in the face of adversity.

Eli’s Lie-O-Meter: A Story about Telling the Truth: Eli knows the difference between pretending and real facts. Sometimes in real life keeping to the facts is hard for Eli. With the help of his parents and the super-deluxe lie-o-meter, Eli learns about the consequences of his fibs and the value of telling the truth.

Zip, Zip…Homework: Ziiip! Riiip! Cliick! Violet’s new backpack is perfect. It has pockets that zip, snap, and strap. It’s just what Violet needs to hold her very first homework assignment–or is it? An anxious student discovers that it’s more important to tell the truth than to keep it zipped up in this timely tale.

Sam, Bangs & Moonshine: Sam, Bangs & Moonshine is the winner of the 1967 Caldecott Medal. Samantha (known as Sam) is a fisherman’s daughter who dreams rich and lovely dreams–moonshine, her father says. But when her tall stories bring disaster to her friend Thomas and her cat Bangs, Sam learns to distinguish between moonshine and reality.

And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street: From a mere horse and wagon, young Marco concocts a colorful cast of characters, making Mulberry Street the most interesting location in town. Dr. Seuss’s signature rhythmic text, combined with his unmistakable illustrations, will appeal to fans of all ages, who will cheer when our hero proves that a little imagination can go a very long way. (Who wouldn’t cheer when an elephant-pulled sleigh raced by?) Now over seventy-five years old, this story is as timeless as ever.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf: “Nothing ever happens here,” the shepherd thinks. But the bored boy knows what would be exciting: He cries that a wolf is after his sheep, and the town’s people come running. How often can that trick work, though? B.G. Hennessy’s retelling of this timeless fable is infused with fanciful whimsy through Boris Kulikov’s hilarious and ingenious illustrations. This tale is sure to leave readers grinning sheepishly.

The Classic Treasury of Aesop’s Fables: From a fast-footed monkey to a two-timing fox, each creature has a story to tell and a moral to teach. These famous tales tickle the imagination and teach simple truths, ones that children and adults face every day. Inside are twenty classic fables, including The Tortoise and the Hare, The Goose Who Laid the Golden Eggs, and The City Mouse and the Country Mouse. Passed from generation to generation, Aesop’s best-loved fables are presented here with beautiful illustrations that bring these naughty, bold, brave, and lovable creatures to life.

The Berenstain Bears and the Truth: When Mama goes to the market, Brother and Sister play soccer in the house . . . and end up breaking a lamp! When Mama asks them what happened, they tell her a series of whoppers that just get bigger and bigger. Will they ever tell her the truth? This beloved story is a perfect way to teach children about the importance of honesty.

Elementary Chapter Books about Honesty & Integrity

Winners Take All (All-Star Sports Story): In order to win an important baseball game, twelve-year-old Kyle claims to have made a difficult catch which he actually dropped. The unearned win gives his team, the Reds, an unfair advantage in the championship series against the Cubs, and everyone–from his teammates to his parents–considers him the hero of the game.

But the heady excitement of the praise and attention he receives is not enough to silence his conscience, which starts getting to get the better of him. He is afraid of disappointing his family and teammates if he tells the truth, but he is increasingly uneasy in his deception. He even considers deliberately throwing the next game in the series to try to offset the damage. Then his sports-crazed grandmother tells him about Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson, a pitcher whose reputation for honesty was so great that umpires would ask him to make calls during games. Mathewson made the calls–and sometimes against his own team!

Dessert First: Dessert Schneider has her very own personal style. But sometimes walking to the beat of her own drum means walking right into a heap of mischief, especially when it comes to the legendary family recipe (and Dessert’s all-time favorite treat), Grandma Reine’s Double-Decker Chocolate Bars. As the oldest in a rambunctious, restaurant-owning family of six, Dessert seems to be better at getting into trouble than getting out of it. And that’s because, for this eight-year-old, saying sorry is definitely not a piece o’cake!

Honestly, Mallory! (Mallory (Darby Creek)): Everyone seems to know what they want to be for Career Day at schoolthat is, everyone except Mallory. She can’t seem to find anything she’s good at. When she finally decides to be a fashion designer, some of her classmates laugh at her. And then, before she can stop it, out pops a lieMallory tells everyone that she’s won the Fashion Fran fashion design contest. Mallory’s lie grows and grows until she must face the truth and make amends with her class, friends, teachers, and parents.

The Skull of Truth: A Magic Shop Book: Mr. Elives’s magic shop is back, and this time it is on the other side of Tucker’s Swamp. And Tucker’s Swamp is where Charlie Eggleston heads to escape a beating-for lying. Charlie can’t seem to keep from lying, though sometimes his lies are for a good cause. When Charlie stumbles into Mr. Elives’s magic shop, his eyes light upon The Skull. Charlie steals The Skull and it puts him under some sort of spell-he can only tell the truth. Trouble is, now no one believes him.

Touchdown Trouble (Fred Bowen Sports Stories: Football): Sam loves football. Most of all he loves the feeling he gets when his team, the Cowboys, are working togethermoving closer and closer to the end zone. But Sams pride in his team begins to fade. In an important game, the Cowboys beat the Giants to remain undefeated, thanks to a touchdown by Sam in the final play of the game. But later, watching a video of the game, Sam and his teammates realize that the winning touchdown was scored illegally. The Giants should have won the game. Now the team is divided. Should they keep quiet or give the Giants the win?

FREE Virtues STUDY UNIT

In addition to offering recommendations of books about honesty and integrity for kids,I’ve teamed up with some fellow bloggers to offer you homeschool and in-class virtues unit study resources! These resources may contain affiliate links.